[bscb-l] MassDOT News Alert - An Open Letter to Our Customers

[Rick Morin]

From: Secretary Davey (DOT) [mailto:Secretary.Davey at dot.state.ma.us] 
Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 3:55 PM
Subject: MassDOT News Alert - An Open Letter to Our Customers 

 

 

March 13, 2012

 

An Open Letter to Our Customers,

 

Over the last nine weeks we have engaged in a public process to allow our
riders to weigh in on recommendations for closing a $159 million budget gap
next year. As we conclude that process this week, we want to take a minute
to thank you for the unprecedented level of engagement you demonstrated over
this period.

 

Since January, nearly 6,000 of you attended our 31 public meetings, with
nearly 2,000 individuals offering public comment. In addition, we received
5,850 emails from you about the importance of the MBTA in your lives. By
comparison, the last time the MBTA raised fares in 2007 just 800 people
attended a public hearing.

 

The choices before us are difficult, to be sure. Hearing your individual
stories only makes them more so. We know that a quality, reliable public
transit system is essential to getting our customers to work, school,
doctor's appointments and other activities. We know a public transit option
makes our air cleaner and roads less congested. And we know that it is a
lifeline for many of you.

 

We have been honest about our financial problems and we thank you for your
willingness to listen. Massive debt costs, coupled with increased operating
expenses for things like energy and health care are overburdening our
system. The system we have today we cannot afford and the system we want is
well beyond reach. 

 

Before our April 4th Board Meeting, we will lay out our final recommendation
for closing the Fiscal Year 2013 gap. We continue to work on identifying
prudent one-time revenues that will allow us to stave off some of the
proposed service cuts for one year. Our final proposal will include both
cuts and a fare increase, however. 

 

Unfortunately, without a new dedicated revenue source, we know we will be
back in this very place next year. Many legislators attended our public
hearings, acknowledging the need for a new solution. The Governor also heard
your voices at the hearing he attended in Revere.  Our hope is that we may
continue these discussions in the coming weeks and months so that we can
collectively figure out a way to continue to provide a world-class public
transit system to you. 

 

This is your system. Long after we're gone, customers will still have a need
and desire for a public transit option. The decisions we make today will
have a lasting impact on this system, and we thank you for remaining engaged
in this process.

 

Sincerely,

Richard A. Davey, Secretary and CEO

MassDOT

 

Jonathan Davis, Acting General Manager

MBTA

 

 


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